San Mateo Teacher Honored as ‘Symetra Hero in the Classroom’

Abbott Middle School teacher Valerie Davidson is not your average educator.

Not only does she teach life skills, computer skills and creative writing at the San Mateo middle school, Davidson is also the teacher-coordinator of Abbott’s student broadcasting studio, KABB.

And on Sept. 8, she became one of 16 K-12 teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area to be honored in the 2011 NFL season as a “Symetra Hero in the Classroom” during a special surprise presentation at the school.

“Connecting life skills to real life is key to Ms. Davidson's success with students — she developed the new Life Skills curriculum specifically for our sixth graders to help ensure they’re armed with the tools they needs to succeed in middle school,” Abbott Middle School Principal Cathy Ennon said in a statement.

“She stays abreast of the latest innovations in technology, integrating the technical and the practical into her lessons,” said Ennon, who nominated Davidson for the Symetra Hero in the Classroom award.

As the teacher-coordinator of KABB, Davidson works with student technicians and reporters to prepare the daily broadcast. She maintains the equipment, edits scripts and coaches students on their oral presentation skills.

Davidson also serves on various liaison committees, representing Abbott Middle School at the district level.

“Ms. Davidson extends herself to every Abbott student; you’ll find her classroom open before school, during lunch and after school,” said Ennon.

“She’s deeply committed to helping students connect with their classes and the greater school community, actively encouraging them to give back to the school in the form of service or just making better choices about their behavior. She hasn't met a student she couldn't win over,” Ennon said.

The teachers honored by the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program are recognized in front of their students and peers at surprise in-school presentations, and they receive a $1,000 donation for classroom books and supplies.

In addition, they receive tickets to a 49ers home game and are acknowledged during on-field presentations at Candlestick Park. Davidson was recognized at the Sept. 11 game when the 49ers played the Seattle Seahawks.

Teachers may be nominated by their principal, district staff, student or student’s parent. The winners are selected based on their ability to balance the core curriculum with students’ individual needs; build trust among students, parents and the community; and invest in their students’ long-term success.